Westminster

As we read about the suit against Orange County by the parents of a girl who was mauled in a county park and permanently injured by a mountain lion, we tried to imagine the anguish and despair her parents must have felt. We tried to compare these emotions to those we imagine were felt by the family of a woman who recently was shot dead in her car in Westminster. It does not seem fair to us that the parents of the injured girl can sue the county while the family of the murdered woman have no one to sue. Surely someone should have to pay money for her murder.

About 2,600 pampered purebreds are competing at Madison Square Garden in the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which bills itself as the second-oldest continually run U.S. sporting event. "The Kentucky Derby has a year on us," spokeswoman and Shih Tzu owner Kelly Rubin said. Among the dogs who will compete tonight for Best in Show are a Sealyham terrier group, a standard poodle, an Australian shepherd that won the herding group and a beagle named Uno, who became the first beagle to win the hound group at the show since 1939.

Just finished reading your editorial "The Role of the Press in Wartime" (Feb. 18). The press in both wartime and in peacetime continues to perform very well. Its function is vital to the nation at all times. We desperately need the continued asking of the "hard and probing questions" if our government is to adequately represent and govern our society. Americans should be closing ranks in support of our so very effective free press. H.J. BENGEL, Westminster

I think it is terrible how the news programs on local stations interrupt the previous show's credits. The credits are shown in a box in the corner of the TV screen. One can not read them because they are so small and out of focus. Many of us still like to read the credits at the end of a TV show or movie. H. Howard, Westminster

I would like to thank you for your recent coverage of open space issues. I am a resident of South County and I believe we must preserve the open space that is left to maintain our quality of life. I feel that the proposed Foothill South toll road will jeopardize our open space and the last bit of pristine environment we have left. Phyllis Watson San Juan Capistrano Re "O.C.'s Dilemma: More Housing or Open Space," Aug. 12: In their plan to develop 14,000 homes, Rancho Mission Viejo Land Co. fails to include a single "affordable" or subsidized unit.

Edison High School struggled early, scoring only four points in the first quarter, but still managed to defeat Fountain Valley, 51-32, in Sunset League boys' basketball action Wednesday night. Senior guard Ken Amman scored 18 points and senior forward Doug Kantona added 12 points to to help the Chargers. Kantona also had 10 rebounds. The Chargers (2-2, 12-6) moved into a second-place tie with Fountain Valley and Westminster.

Don Adams scored 16 points and Jeff Smith added 13 to lead Orange High School to a 50-45 victory over Canyon Monday in a nonleague game played at Canyon. Adams made the majority of his points from the free-throw line, converting 10 of 13. As a team, Orange made 24 of 40 free-throw attempts. Canyon (3-6) shot only 13 free throws, making 10. Canyon's David Jones scored 15 points and Randy Simpson added 12.

It was interesting to read on the same page (May 7) that Huntington Beach is installing a special Surfing Walk of Fame, while the adjoining city of Westminster elected to invest $10,000 in 16 homeless people to reintroduce them to productive lives, hopefully with jobs, all within the three months that they will be sheltered. There was no estimate given to the cost of the 4-foot-square personalized granite stones honoring the inductees to Huntington Beach's Walk of Fame nor how many will be so honored, but I am hoping that some of that city's largess will be allocated to its own growing population of street people.